The hospital said an investigation showed the women contracted the Group A
streptococcus infection apparently from a member of the surgical team.
Group A strep is the same type of bacteria that causes strep throat.

Neither of the babies was affected by the infection and one of the mothers
already has been discharged and sent home. The second mother was in good
condition, hospital spokeswoman Joan Trezek said.

"The OB patients were attended by the same surgical team and
delivered in the same OR within five hours of each other," the
hospital said in a statement.

"This is a very rare, very isolated occurrence," said Dr. Thomas
Vescio, medical director for infection control and hospital epidemiology
at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare. Vescio cited research indicating
there were only 15 postpartum and post-surgical outbreaks of
hospital-acquired Group A strep in the United States between 1965 and
1999.

Hospital officials said they believe they have identified the member of
the surgical team who was carrying the bacterium. The individual, who
showed no symptoms, was put on leave and given antibiotics. The person is
now strep-free.

Vescio said no routine screening for the bacterium is conducted because
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it would serve no
purpose.

"At present no hospital in the country could guarantee they could
prevent such an event," Vescio said.

The two women who contracted the disease delivered babies July 31 within
five hours of each other. Both have undergone surgery to control the
infections.

Hospital officials have not determined how the bacterium was transmitted
to the women, with Vescio saying skin transmission was unlikely. Possible
airborne transmission is considered "somewhat controversial," he
said.

The Illinois Department of Health is investigating the incident.

Some 600 people nationally contracted necrotizing fasciitis in 1999,
according to CDC statistics. The disease destroys muscles, fat and skin
tissue, killing about 20 percent of victims.

Generally, the bacterium spreads through direct contact with mucus from
the nose or throat of an infected individual or through contact with
infected wounds or sores on the skin. The disease can spread rapidly and
needs to be treated promptly. Symptoms include fever, severe pain and
swelling. The infection may enter through even a minor wound, according to
information from the National Necrotizing Fasciitis Foundation and redness
around the wound is an additional possible symptom. The NNFF notes that
symptoms of the infection may be mistaken for the flu.